home > Jacksonian
Vince Gordon
by Ward Schaefer
October 22, 2008
“Fast cars, fast motorcycles, fast women.” That’s how Vince Gordon describes his former lifestyle as a military policeman in Yokosuka, Japan.
Now 44, Gordon is the director of YoungLife Urban, the Jackson chapter of a national Christian youth group. Gordon says he was drawn to YoungLife for its “relational” approach, which emphasizes building relationships over handing out Bibles. Often wearing fake teeth or a wig while addressing young people, Gordon adheres to what he calls a “3-L Philosophy”: “If you’re laughing while you’re learning, it’s gonna last.”
Gordon grew up in South Central Los Angeles, the eldest of three children. While he stayed busy in high school with band and athletics, his younger brother hung around the notorious Bloods gang. When Gordon was 16, his mother moved the family to Jackson, and Gordon enrolled at Lanier High School.
“It was like my world came to an end, because there was nothing, nothing to do (in Jackson),” Gordon recalls.
He struggled to find his place at Lanier, until the principal, recognizing his dancing talent, bought a bulldog suit and made Gordon the first human mascot in the district. Gordon earned some minor recognition for his dancing skills with an appearance on the television show “Good Morning Mississippi.” Still, he was eager to join the Navy immediately after graduating in 1982. He worked on submarines for seven years before transferring to Japan for the last three years of his service. In Japan, Gordon became a born-again Christian and renounced the partying and drinking that had accompanied his service up to that point.
Gordon returned to Jackson in 1992 with his pregnant wife, Leila, and little else. He traded his Nissan Fairlady Z sports car and Kawasaki 900 motorcycle for a minivan and worked at a Church’s Chicken and a gas station, before finding work with a job-training program for special-needs youth.
“These were kids who just needed a chance,” Gordon says. “My job was to ensure that they did well once they got that chance.”
Gordon reveals his youthful side when showing off pictures of his car collection: a Corvette, a PT Cruiser and a custom-fitted, 1992 Toyota low-rider truck with hydraulics.
Because his house and sizeable garage sit across the street from Lanier, Gordon can give students visual evidence that success is possible in Jackson. His cars provide another lesson, too. Even as he acquires toys he once had to give up, Gordon has given away three cars to needy families.
“It’s the principle of reaping and sowing,” Gordon says, “giving away to get.
posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/22/08 at 03:45 PM. [printer version] Share |
COMMENTS
Mr. Gordon works very hard to help those in his community, and not just the kids at Lanier, but students throughout the metro area. KUDOs to Vince. Thanks for recognizing his commitment to his community and his passion to help.
posted by lanier77 on 10/23/08 at 03:30 PM
Page 1 of 1 pages
:: recentcomments
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:26 PMWant Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Brian C Johnson: The courts will not allow the state to drug test Medicaid recipients, so why waste money and effort on it? How exactly are single mothers--who make up the majority ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:19 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: Since you guys have turned the thread into a discussion of politics. A while back during one of our meetings we discussed a coming up with a grading system for our elected officials ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:06 PM
Want Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Ronni_Mott: Republican conservatives are truly confusing. Aren't they the ones who want less government regulation? I suppose that only counts if its regulating things on their ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:35 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Walt: Renaldo/Blackwatch you have been simply marvelous in your insight and truth telling on this piece. So glad you're back. I thought we had lost you since I didn't see your posts for so ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:22 PM
[Editor's Note] Aloha, Jackson
DonnaLadd: Whoops. On second reference in the above column, I said "Air Force caption" instead of Army captain. I've corrected it above.
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:12 PM
Want Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Laurie Bertram Roberts: I will say what I said before how does he even know how someone paid for that $30 tag. It could've been a gift they may have used their tax check because ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 11:43 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: Of course, people learn at different speeds; I certainly didn't learn what I know now about writing and journalism craft until I was nearly 40 (of course, that had to do as much as ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 09:56 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Kudos to you and to your Prof. Cant take anything from ya. But the "problem" with the craft around here (and a LOT of things) is that eveyone considers themselves an authority. I ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 09:19 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: I don't want to derail this great thread with journalism lessons, but I'll answer Brad quickly about the problems with yes-or-no questions: Sometimes you can get lucky and get a ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 05:33 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Renaldo Bryant: @Duan In my post about corporate America, I noted that social justice and equity must be the only context under which interactions and contestations must take place. Simply ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 04:41 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Well, Donna, as a "good" journalist. In my day..a DAMN good one. Ive gotten plenty of broader answers by follwing up with a "why" or "why not". and honestly the WHY of Kenny Stokes ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 04:14 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: "Also, transforming Jxn has to be a metro concern, not just a Jxn proper concern. White Flight and residential segregation must be addressed......In the Jxn metro area, they don’t ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:31 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: No, yes-or-no questions draw completely different kinds of answers, and usually empty sound bites, thus derailing the possibility of getting an intelligent answer. Good journalists ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:18 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Well, a why or why not follow up would take it out of the "yes or no" I think. I dont think Ward 3 needs another councilperson with a "career politician" mentality. The spectre of ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:01 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: I'm not interested in term-limit questions, or getting anyone to pledge to them), and I try to never ask a yes-or-no question, but the other ones look good. Thanks to both of you. ...
e-mail newsletter
Sign up for the JFP Daily Newsletter to receive breaking news, local events, music listings and more by e-mail.
just commented on...
» Want Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate 
3
» [Kamikaze] ‘I’m No Token’ 50
» [Editor’s Note] Aloha, Jackson 1
» Charter Schools: The Devil’s in the Details 1
» Somebody Say Something 9
most recent posts...
» Red-Washed Origins
» The Single’s Valentine’s Day Survival Guide
» Divine, Delicious, Decadent
» Vulnerability and Strength
» Love, Cinema Style
jfp featured event
Jackson 2000 Friendship Ball
Mar 03, 2012 - Civil rights veteran Owen Brooks and Voice of Calvary Ministries president Phil Reed are honored for their racial reconciliation efforts and their contributions to Jackson. Look forward to hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and music by These Days with Jewel Bass. Proceeds benefit Parents for Public Schools and Students With A Goal (S.W.A.G.). Wear casual attire. more
|
Guests online: 254
© Jackson Free Press, Inc. - portions of code by CC with EE. User agreement and privacy statement. |
